cathgaet



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. L. GATHCART.

RLEASING DEVICE FOR BOATS, &c.

No. 380,786.V Patnted Apr. 10, 1888.

Nrrso PATENr Friend JAMES L. CATHOART, OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGIN IA.

PECIPICATION forniing part of Letters Patent No. 380,'786, date April10` 18818.

Application filcd May 26, 1887. Serial No. 239,459. (No model.)

To all whom it may conccrn:

Be it known that I, J Arms L. CATIIOART, of Alexandria, in the county ofAlexandria and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Releasing Devices for Boats and other Purposes; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and-use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in releasing devices for boatsand other purposes.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple, safe, and perfectlyreliable device, that will by its manner of construction afford a meansfor the instantaneous automatic re4 lease of a life-boat or other boatfrom the suspension and lowering tackle, by which it may be lauinchedwith safety from the side or stern of a sea-going or other vessel in theroughest Weather, as by its form and combination of parts fouling of thereleasing-hooks is rendered impossible.

A further object is to provide a rele-asing,` device that, in connectionwith hoistingtackle used for the elevation or lowering of heavy bodies,will automatically release connection With the blocks or other hoistingappliances instantly, when the entire weightof the article being loweredis removed from the hoistingtackle by reason of the seating of thesegoods or other material npon a proper place of deposit or supportingbase.

WVith these objects in view my invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts that will be hereiuafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, making a part of this specification, Figure lis a view of the complete releasing device as combined with aboat-lowering tackle. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the hookand shackle that constitute the releasing device, the two parts being inconnection and in position assumed when a weight is suspended to them.Fig. 3 shows the hook and shackle detached and in position assumed whenan attached weight is released. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, in section,

through the center of the hook, showing its Fig. is a front elemanner ofconstruction.

vation of the shackle. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, in scction,throughthe center of the shackle or connecting-loop. Fig. 7 is an edge view ofthe shackle.

A represents a strong hook made of any proper metal. The upper portionof this hook is provided with a reduced end, a, that in its formationleaves a shoulder, ct', whichis given a more extended bearing-surface bythe enlargement of the body of the hook immediately below it, affordinga seat, b, for the clipband c of the sheaveblock B, that is looselysecured npon the end a of the hook to permit a swivel motion of the bodyof the block B npon it when it is necessary. The portion of the hook Athat is bent to retain the shackle is flattened on its inner surfacefromthe point (Z to the extremity d' of the hook proper.

The body A terminates at d' in a rounded end, which is slot'ted to formtwo parallel jaws, e e, the center slot, c', being of such a Width as toafford space for the insertion of one end of the link-bar O, theopposite end of this link being similarly formed to connect with theswinging hook end D= I v The link-bar O is constructed to producefilling-blocks f on each side of the hook which conform to the roundedsurface of the end joint d' of the hook proper, A, and a duplicatejoint,

y, formed in the solid material of the hook end D, the link beingpivotally secured to each portion A B to permit a free action of thedouble-rule joint thus afforded.

Hook end D is extended from the pivot g' of rule-joint g as a centerinwardly to produce a portion, D', which is made to conform in shape tothe'flat bent surface of the hook body A, that lies between the points dd' of the same. The upper or exposed surface of the hook end is roundedto afford a symmetrical continuation of the hook body when the parts arein contact.

The portion D2 of the hook end D, which project-s above the rule-jointg, is considerably heavier than the inner portion, D', of this piece,and it is curved outwardly to form a rounded end or nose for the hookproper, of which itis an extension. The connection of parts when thehook.` is in use' to suspend a weight exhibits a -proper curvature ofthe compound hook that has no objectionable projections at the joints ofthe connecting linkbar O.

The open adjustment of the jointed hook end D, shown in Fig. 3, causesthe shoulders of the filling-blocks f, that are integral portions of thelink-bar C, to abut against the shoulders i i', made on the outersurface of the hook A and its attached hook end D, such a contactlimiting the pivotal movement of the hook end to hold it nearlyperpendcular when it is released, as shown, and it will be noticed thatthe length of the link-bar O in this position of thehook end Ddetermines the outward projection of the hook end to release the loop ofthe clevis from hooked contact when it is in position to permit thisrelease, as will be herenafter explained.

The shackle H consists of an eyebolt, H', and a loop, H, that have ahinged or knuckle joint connection at l, the head K of the bolt H beingenlarged to enter the slotted and rounded ears K, of the loop to form aneat and strong hinge-joint, these parts being Secured together topermit a folding movement of the loop H2 by the inserton of thepivot-bolt J through a center hole made in the ears K'. The head K isConstructed with an integral upwardly-projecting boss, L, so locatedwith reference to the loop H2 that its vertical face m will nearly havecontact with the adjacent surface of the loop when the loop is in thevertical position assumed when the shackle is in use to suspend a weightconnected to the bolt H'.

The boss L is perforated centrally at right angles to the pivot bolt Jand has a shouldered slide-bolt, n, made to loosely fit the hole. Thebolt n is projected a limited distance from the face m of boss L by aspiral Spring, o, which is placed on the reduced body of the slide-boltn and engagcs the shoulder u' of the bolt as well as the rear surface ofthe box formed in the boss L by its perforation, the diameter of theperforation made in the boss being so reduced at a point, 1), as toafford a seat for the Spring o, the reduced body of the slide-bolt nhaving a sliding fit in this reduced hole, the bolt being retained inposition to slide in the Spring-box by a washer, r, which is riveted onthe outer projecting end of the bolt to permit the bolt to be normallyprojected beyond the vertical face m of the boss L and engage the sidesurface of the loop H2 when this loop is held upright by the suspensionof a boat or other weight to which the eyebolt H' may be connected.

If the bolt and shackle, or a pair of them, are to be employed as aboat-releasing device, the eyebolt H' is enlarged at a point just belowthe head to produce a fiange, s, the upper edge of which is preferablyronnded from the cylindrical neck t of the bolt downwardly to render theShape neat in appearance without a sacrifice of necessary Strength.

The fiange sterminates in a square shoulder, s', and from this point thebolt is reduced and the loops H2 of each Shackle being held in a 0vertical position by the weight of the boat, the eyebolts being rigidlySecured to the prow and stern timbers of the suspended boat i-n aposition to hold it in poise laterally.

When a suspended boat is lowered by the f cast-off of the belayed endsof the ropes, the instant the boat strikes the surface of the water, andthus relieves the shackle-connections of its weight, thespring-actuat'ed Slide-boltsn will exert an outward pressureagainsttheloops of the shackle and these loops will be projected against thepivoted and link-connected hook ends D of the hooks A. This movement andabutment of the loops will cause a rocking movement, as well as asimultaneous lateral projection, of the hook ends D. These hook endsbeing inverted by gravity carry outwardly the loops of the shackle by acontact of their inner curved ends with the surface of these loops, theresult being an instantaneous disengagement of the hooks from theshackle-loops and a consequent release of the boat from thesuspension-tackle.

When the releasing-hooks are to be used in connection with boat-loweringtackle which operates from side to side of a vessel, the blocks arearranged to lead the ropes inbound properly and the hooks of the lowerblocks are adapted to engage the shackles from the bow toward the stern,so that when the lowered boat rests upon the water the hinged portionsof the hooks will fall from the forward aft and the shackle will beprojected by their spring-bolts i-n a line with the keel of the boat.

The uses to which this releasing device may be applied are various, asthe releasing action is desirable wherever a load is elevated anddeposited, or lowered and deposited, so that it is available forbuildingpurposes, unloading vessels, warehouse-freight handlin g, haystacking,or elevating into barns, and many other similar uses. Hence I do notwish to limit myself to the particular purpose of boat-releasing, butclaim the device for any purpose to which it may by slight modificationsof form be adapted.

Slight changes might be resorted to in the form and means of connectionof the parts of this device without departure from the spirit of myinvention. I do not therefore wish to limit myself to the precise formshown; but,

Having fully described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A hook having its outer end pivotally connected to the main body ofthe hook by a link-bar.

IOO

IIO

2. The combination,wit11 the bent book-body, of a shouldered link-baradapted to support in swinging adjustment the hinged outer end of thehook, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, With a block provided With sheaves, of a book-body,a link-bar, and

a hook end, the body, link-bar, and hook end being hinged together,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, With shackle consisting, essentially, of a loop anda stop for limiting the movement of the loop in one direction, of ahookconsisting, essentia11y,of abody and an end, thelatter being pivotailyconnected to the body of the hook, substantially as set forth.

Witnesses:

O. S. DRURY, J. E. J oNEs.

